Pakistan and China have formally initiated an expansive cooperation framework to advance vocational education, signing 21 agreements and launching five joint platforms aimed at aligning skills training with modern industrial needs. The development was confirmed by Pakistani state media on Thursday.
The agreements were presented during the “Seminar on International Cooperation and Exchange: Integration of Industry and Education in Vocational Education between China and Pakistan,” held in Beijing on Tuesday. The initiative focuses on embedding industry standards directly into Pakistan’s skills ecosystem.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, the cooperation covers professional standards, shared digital teaching resources, curriculum development, faculty training, and enterprise-linked training bases. Both countries are also establishing platforms that will enable joint learning systems, co-developed courses, and shared training infrastructure.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, underscored the strategic value of the partnership, noting that vocational education “has the ingredients to transform the dreams of young people into jobs, skills and employment.” He emphasized that the initiative is designed to generate meaningful economic opportunities for Pakistan’s growing youth population.
A significant component of the collaboration is the Professional Standards and International Teaching Resource Database, which will set benchmarks and resource systems in critical fields such as Culinary Arts and Nutrition, Fashion and Costume Design, Food Inspection and Testing, Supply Chain Operations, Fine Chemical Technology, Modern Agricultural Production, and Information Security Technology Applications.
The event featured participation from Pakistan’s National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and provincial technical bodies, reflecting a nationwide implementation approach.
Additional agreements are establishing sector-specific colleges and workshops, including the Saishang Workshop for culinary training and the China–Pakistan Automotive Overseas Workshop dedicated to New Energy Vehicle technology. The automotive initiative involves Hunan Automotive Engineering Vocational University, NAVTTC, and MG JW Automobile Pakistan Limited.
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For Pakistan, the partnership aligns with national workforce development priorities. With a large youth demographic and growing demand for specialized skills, the government anticipates that strengthening vocational training will support overseas employment, enhance industrial productivity, and expand remittance inflows.